▲ South Korean players Park Ji-su, Kim Jin-ya and Hwang Ui-jo (L to R) leave the field trailing Mexico 3-1 after the first half of the quarterfinal match of the Tokyo Olympic men's football tournament at International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama, Japan, on July 31, 2021. (Yonhap)
▲ Kim Dong-hyun (L) and Jeong Tae-wook (R) of South Korea defend Henry Martin of Mexico during the quarterfinal match of the Tokyo Olympic men's football tournament at International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama, Japan, on July 31, 2021. (Yonhap)
▲ Lee Dong-gyeong of South Korea (C) scores past Guillermo Ochoa of Mexico (R) during the quarterfinal match of the Tokyo Olympic men's football tournament at International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama, Japan, on July 31, 2021. (Yonhap)

(Olympics) S Korea-football

(Olympics) S. Korea sent packing in men's football after embarassing loss to Mexico

By Yoo Jee-ho

YOKOHAMA, Japan, July 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea got trounced by Mexico 6-3 to get knocked out of the quarterfinals in the Tokyo Olympic men's football tournament on Saturday, their porous defense rendered helpless against the opposition onslaught.

Two Mexican players grabbed a brace each, while Lee Dong-gyeong had both of the South Korean goals in the crushing loss at International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama, south of Tokyo.

This is the second straight Olympics in which South Korea were sent packing in the men's football quarterfinals.

South Korea controlled the run of play in opening minutes but Mexico scored first in the 12th minute.

Alexis Vega sent a cross from the left side of the box, and Luis Romo headed it down to set up Henry Martin, whose own header from the goalmouth beat goalkeeper Song Bum-keun for a 1-0 lead.

Lee Dong-gyeong leveled the score eight minutes later. After taking a feed from Kim Jin-gyu at the top of the penalty arc, Lee faked a shot with his right foot and then fired one home past Guillermo Ochoa with his left foot.

But then it was all Mexico the rest of the first half. Vega, who toyed with the South Korean defense on the left side all night, found Romo sprinting down the middle. The Mexican midfielder received the perfect pass without breaking his stride and struck it past Song to put Mexico up by 2-1.

South Korea dug themselves into a bigger hole in the 39th minute. Kang Yoon-seong was cautioned for pushing down Uriel Antuna in the box, and Sebastian Cordova converted the ensuing penalty for a 3-1 Mexico lead.

South Korea nearly got a goal back immediately after the penalty, but Ochoa made a spectacular save on Lee Dong-jun's hard shot on a counterattack opportunity.

Lee Dong-gyeong rang his free kick off the crossbar in the dying moments of the first half.

South Korea coach Kim Hak-bum made three substitutions to start the second half, hoping to swing the pendulum back in his team's favor.

And Lee Dong-gyeong breathed life back into South Korea with his second goal of the match in the 51st minute. He secured the loose ball after a chaotic scramble in the box, and found the top shelf on the far side to cut the deficit to 3-2.

But hopes of a comeback were further dashed just three minutes later, when Martin headed in his second goal off a free kick taken by Cordova and restored a two-goal lead for Mexico.

Cordova picked up his own second goal in the 63rd minute to give Mexico a 5-2 cushion, thanks to a feed from Vladimir Lorona.

Second-half sub Eduardo Aguirre rubbed it in on South Korea with an 84th-minute goal that made it 6-2 Mexico.

Hwang Ui-jo scored a meaningless goal for South Korea during second-half injury time.

(END)

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